VHF and UHF for preppers without a license
UHF and FRS are for around buildings and in woods. Not for 20 mile communications.
VHF and MURS is for more distant signals.
This is why many HAM handhelds are dual band.
https://www.youtube.com/@hamu4u/videos
I'm a General class amateur radio license operator. and Yes, non license holders are allowed to use the ham bands in an Emergency, for emergency use and not casual conversation.
But chances are that 90%+ ham radio operator will Not respond to a non license person.
a large majority of ham operators are Hypocrites and Ass Holes.
f.c.c. Rule (NOT) Law: says No One can own a frequency. But you will see ham operators Key Up and Talk over others who are engaged in a conversation already on the frequency. That's against the f.c.c. Rule (NOT) Law, But the ham operators Ignore that one when They do it but criticize a C.B. operator when they do it.
When I hear someone on the 2 meter band without a license, I talk to them anyway because I believe in Free Speech and Not government control. but I do have a license just for that reason of those Sour Ham Operators out there playing nazi god on the ham bands.